Reaper of the Drifting Moon Chapter 558

Crash!

As if an earthquake had struck, the entire hall of the Je-won merchant group trembled.

Walls collapsed, tiles fell, injuring the merchant group’s workers.

“What’s going on?”

The head of the Je-won merchant group, Joo Jang-hwan, widened his eyes and looked towards the main gate.

Boom!!

Explosive sounds continued to echo from the direction of the main gate, and a powerful surge of Qi erupted like a storm.

The Qi waves were so strong that they reached all the way here, far from the gate.

Joo Jang-hwan turned around and looked at the person next to him.

“Mother! I don’t know who it is, but it seems we have a dangerous intruder. It’s possible you could get hurt if you stay here, so please move to a safe place.

The person he was speaking to was none other than his mother, Noh Tae-tae.

Noh Tae-tae put down her teacup and shook her head.

“I can’t do that, clan leader!”

“Mother!”

“If the eldest in the merchant group flees from danger, who would follow and trust us? I’ll be fine, you should be the one to move.”

“I cannot do that. I will take responsibility for this place, so please return to the Together Old Manor.”

Joo Jang-hwan regretted having brought Noh Tae-tae from Together Old Manor for a brief visit. He had brought her to ease her loneliness, never expecting that such an event would occur at this moment.

Noh Tae-tae smiled at Joo Jang-hwan.

“I’ve always been proud of you, clan leader. Although I laid the foundation of the merchant group, you were the one who nurtured it to this extent.”

“Mother?”

“The merchant group needs you more than me. So prioritize your safety. Don’t worry about this old woman whose days are numbered”.

With tear-filled eyes, Noh Tae-tae looked towards the front gate, where the unbearable Qi waves were surging.

Noh Tae-tae had done everything she could to build up the Je-won merchant group.

At times, she faced life-threatening situations, and at other times, someone’s trickery brought the trading group to the brink of destruction.

Despite all sorts of trials, she remained unyielding and eventually brought about the Je-won merchant group of today.

Her strong character played a role in building the foundation of the group, but her well-honed
sixth sense could not be ignored.

Though age had worn away everything else, her sixth sense was as sharp as ever.

It was telling her something.

Today’s invasion could not be avoided.

The feeling of the Qi waves were extraordinary

It was like a sharp dagger lightly scraping across the skin.

Unknowingly, Noh Tae-tae shivered.

It was at that moment.

“Clan leader!”

A man in his early sixties approached Joo Jang-hwan.

The elder was none other than the Chief of the Shadow Cutting Squad.

The Shadow Cutting Squad was one of the strengths of the Je-won Merchant Group.

They protected the group’s convoy in the shadows and were also an organization that retrieved lost items. They possessed considerable martial skills.

They were also the ones who contributed the most in driving out the Blood Ant Chamber out of Poyang Lake.

Joo Jang-hwan asked hurriedly.

“What happened? Who has intruded?”

“The Wolf King has intruded.”

“The wolf king? You mean the wolf king of the Eight Constellations?”

“Yes.”

“Why would he…?”

“I don’t know the reason. Currently, lord Ki is blocking him, but he won’t hold out for long.”

“Uhm!”

“Please move to a safer place, clan Leader!”

“That’s absurd. The leader of the merchant group fleeing from his own place? I’m not such a person.”

Joo Jang-hwan shook his head.

Just like Noh Tae-tae, he had no intention of evading any danger.

The leader of the Shadow Cutting Squad looked at Noh Tae-tae.

His eyes held a great deal of meaning.

Noh Tae-tae nodded her head and opened her mouth.

“If our opponent is indeed the Wolf King, it seems difficult for our merchant group to avoid the disaster today.”

“That’s right.”

“But the elder of the merchant group can’t be on the run from disaster either.”

“Noh Tae-Tae.”

“Did you raise your successor well?”

“Of course. Thanks to your guidance, I was able to raise them well.”

“So there’s no need to worry about the future?”

“Yes!”

The Chief of the Shadow Cutting Squad answered with a smile.

Noh Tae-tae mirrored his smile.

They were not simply in an employer-servant relationship.

They had been companions for a long time and had endured hardships together. That’s why they could understand each other’s thoughts with just a smile and a few words.

Noh Tae-tae said to the chief of the Shadow Cutting Squad

“Escort the merchant clan leader to a safe place.”

“Yes”

The head of the Shadow Cutting Squad bowed his head.

Sensing the suspicious atmosphere, Joo Jang-hwan quickly looked at Noh Tae-Tae.

“Mother?”

“I’m sorry, my son. But I believe that you will splendidly rebuild the Je-won merchant group. I’ll bear all the past sins, you, raise the Je-won merchant group again.”

“Rather, let me stay. Mother!”

“What should an old person who has outlived her child do? It’s natural for the elderly to go first, so this is the right way”.

“Mother, that can’t be!”

It was when Joo Jang-hwan was about to cry out.

A young martial artist appeared behind him and struck his acupuncture point.

As Joo Jang-hwan lost consciousness and fell, the young martial artist scooped him up.

“Take the clan leader to a safe place.”

“Yes!”

“Take good care of the clan leader and the Je-won merchant group.”

“Don’t worry, master!”

The young martial artist was the disciple of the chief of the Shadow Cutting Squad.

He saluted Noh Tae-tae and the leader of the Shadow Cutting Squad, then hid himself, followed by the Shadow Cutting Squad.

“They should be able to rebuild the Je-won merchant group splendidly.”

“I suppose so. By the way, don’t you resent me?”

“Resentment? Thanks to you, I’ve been living a life of overwhelming luxury.”

“And just when life became bearable, I’m leading you to hell, aren’t I?”

“I’ve served you this far, I might as well accompany you to hell.”

“In your next life, don’t get tied to this old woman. Live freely.”

“What is wrong with you? You, Noh Tae-tae, were like a mother to me. If you hadn’t saved me, would a backstreet thief like me have been treated as a human being and lived like this? Thanks to you, I’ve lived well in this world and I’ll follow you in the next.

“‘Eh, one cannot…,'”

As Noh Tae-tae seemed to bow her head in submission.

Boom!

With a loud explosion, the front gate of the grand hall shattered, and someone was flung inside.

The person who tumbled in front of Noh Tae-tae and the leader of the Shadow Cutting Squad was none other than Ki Hak Soo, turned into a bloodied mess.

Ki Hak Soo had already drawn his last breath, with no breath to be felt.

“Hehehe!”

With a wicked laugh, King Gujin entered, his hands soaked in blood.

Both his hands were soaked in blood.

Behind King Gujin, the horribly destroyed view of the Je-won merchant group could be seen, with bodies strewn everywhere.

Noh Tae-tae clenched her eyes shut.

King Gujin had not only killed Ki Hak Soo, but all the martial artists who had dared to stand in
his way.

It was a brutal slaughter.

This scene showed why King Gujin was called the bloodthirsty wolf in Kangho.

Behind King Gujin, the figure of Deung Cheol-woong could be seen.

Upon seeing Deung Cheol-woong, the leader of the shadow cutting squad realized the situation.

“So, that scoundrel was the mole. He brought calamity to our merchant group.”

It was the leader of the Shadow Cutting Squad, under the orders of Jo Seolpung, who had attacked the Blood Ant Chamber.

Having missed Deung Cheol-woong then had left him uneasy, and ultimately, it had led to this disaster.

“You Scum!”

“Eeek!”

At the roar of the Shadow Cutting Squad leader, Deung Cheol-woong shrank like a shrimp in shock.

At that moment, King Gujin stepped forward, bursting out in laughter.

“Hmph, this guy’s got quite a bit of strength, he’ll be more fun to deal with than that guy.”

“Senior Gu”

“Who called me a senior? You little wretch……”

“Huff!”

At King Gujin’s words, the leader of the Shadow Cutting Squad let out a sigh.

This violent and cruel man did not care for others even as much as a speck of dust beneath his nails.

At this point, it was infuriating to think that the heavens had allowed such a person to possess such power.

Then Noh Tae-tae stepped forward and spoke.

“How can you live so recklessly with such formidable martial arts? If only you had adapted to the world a little more, you could have made a great name for yourself.

“Heh heh! I have no interest in being venerated after death. Death is the end of everything, so
why should I suppress my desires while living?”

“Why don’t you understand that sometimes principles are more important than desires?”

“Shut up, old woman! Don’t try to bewitch me with such teachings.”

“Very well! Wolf King. What brings you to our sacred ground?”

“I know there is a famous sword in your vault. If you give it to me, I will quietly leave.”

“There is no treasure sword in our vault that would interest the Wolf King. And even if there were, we could not give it to you.

“Even if it means death?”

“There are things more valuable than life itself. Opening the treasury for you may save my life, but it would disgrace the merchant group. Then, although I may preserve its lineage, I will never again receive the respect of others.”

“So you cannot open the treasury because of your useless pride?”

“Whether it’s useless or not, only time will tell.”

“Enough! If you won’t open it yourself, I’ll kill everyone and open it with my power”.

“You will never get what you want.”

Elder Noh Tae-tae stated resolutely.

Swooosh!

At that moment, around twenty martial artists appeared from behind her.

They were the ones who had remained after assisting Joo Jang-hwan to escape.

The young martial artists had all escaped with Joo Jang-hwan, and those who remained were all older.

“Arrogant ants! But no matter how many ants gather, they cannot stop a wolf.”

“Even ants have their strengths. Today you will learn that even ants can hurt when they bite.

Noh Tae-tae glared at the Wolf King, her eyes ablaze with determination.

Her resolute spirit was felt even by the King Gujin. He was not amused by this turn of events.

“I will Kill them all.”

Swoosh!

He drew one of the swords on his back.

It was the recently acquired Golden Emperor

Seeing this, the leader of the shadow cutting squad gave the command.

“Attack!”

“Chyaah!”

The martial artists simultaneously attacked the Wolf King.

Their swords and blades slashed through the air, threatening to slice the Wolf King to pieces.

At that moment, the Wolf King swung the Golden Emperor.

Whoosh!

A formidable wave of sword energy erupted, sweeping out like a rainstorm.

The energy cleaved through the five leading martial artists.

Splatter!

“Argh!”

“Keuk!”

A huge amount of blood splashed everywhere, and the screams of the martial artists echoed throughout the courtyard.

It was King Gujin’s deadly sword technique, Heavenly Wolf Blood Fang Sword.

Although it had the power to match the heavens and earth, the backlash was so tremendous that it would completely shatter an ordinary sword.

That’s why the Wolf King sought legendary swords like Gongpo or the Golden Emperor.

The power of the technique was undeniable.

Whoosh!

Even as he unleashed terrifying sword energy like bolts of lightning, the Golden Emperor’s blade remained intact.

“Kuak!”

“Keuk!”

One by one, the martial artists of the Je-won merchant group fell.

“Kuahaha!”

With a triumphant laugh, the Wolf King massacred the martial artists.

“Haaah!”

The leader of the Shadow Cutting Squad summoned all his strength to charge at the Wolf King.

But his form looked precarious, like a moth leaping into a raging fire.

Noh Tae-tae watched the Shadow Cutting Squad leader’s back with wide eyes.

A man who had followed her all his life was fighting his last battle.

It was her duty to witness his end.

The Wolf King was the end of an era.

Because of him, the Je-won merchant group would fall today. However, it would rise again.

It would grow bigger and more splendid, nourished by her and their deaths.

That was why she chose not to leave.

‘But still, we lived well.’